This is an interesting book, but I was expecting it to be a little more... something. I am not really sure what. It's an interesting example of a bestiary and it's an interesting way to show people what a bestiary is. But the story didn't really engage me so much and I did find the Illuminator very strange-looking.

Godfrey, the son of peasant farmers, is distracted from his chores by the Book of Beasts, which an artist is working on for the lady of the castle. As he pages through the book he imagines the adventures of a “mighty hero, a bold knight … why, Sir Godfrey the Glorious, of course!”

While Godfrey goes about his chores he tells the animals about Sir Godfrey’s adventures, unaware of the chaos that begins to unfold as he names each of the beasties in the book.

I knew I needed to read this book solely because of April Lee’s incredible illustration of the dragon on the front cover. Over the past couple of months I’ve read this book at least four times but each time I finished reading I couldn’t decide what I wanted to say about it. While I am in awe of the detailed drawings of all of the beasties and know I would have been drawn to the colours of the griffin, bonnacon and dragon as a child, I don’t think child me would have really enjoyed this book.

I found the details at the end of the story about life in an English castle and the different beasts interesting but am certain I would have bypassed this information if I’d read this book as a child as my interest in history and mythology didn’t make themselves known until I was an adult. I was distracted by the text within the scrolls, which didn’t seem necessary as the illustrations clearly told those components of the story.

This book was inspired by ‘Book of Beasts: The Bestiary in the Medieval World’, an exhibition at the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Getty Publications for the opportunity to read this book. I’m rounding up from 3.5 stars.

I'm a sucker for magical creatures of any kind, but even if I weren't I think I'd love this story. The illustrations are intricate and beautiful, and Godfrey (with his tendency to get distracted from his chores) was very relatable. I also loved that the book included discussion questions, and a bestiary at the end! The story is short enough to hold the attention of preschoolers, but beautiful and interesting enough that older children (and adults) can enjoy it as well.

I just reviewed Don't Let the Beasties Escape This Book! by Julie Berry. #DontLetTheBeastiesEscapeThisBook #NetGalley

What do you know about beasts? About dragon, unicorn, lion? This is an illustrated book of those beasts, packed in a story for kids. Therefore, interesting! The author didn't only tell us on such beasts, but their abilities, and a background story how these (mostly) surreal animals exists.

A picture book inspired by an exhibit at the J. Paul Getty Museum, <i>Don't Let the Beasties Escape This Book!</i> follows a medieval peasant boy named Godfrey through his day. Although his mother gives him a list of chores to do and reminds him that he must not forget any of them, Godfrey is distracted by the book being created for the lady of the castle. He borrows the book to look at the illuminated images inside and begins to make up a story about the beasts in the pictures. Godfrey doesn't realize that saying the names of the beasts will summon them from the book. A lion, unicorn, griffin, bonnacon, and dragon all appear as the tale of "Godfrey the Glorious" becomes more and more elaborate. Luckily, even though Godfrey is distracted by the adventure he imagines, the creatures manage to complete all his chores for him without his notice - until the dragon lights the fire in the cottage.

Back matter includes an explanation of what a bestiary was, and about how life in a medieval castle worked. Families like Godfrey's would not have their own books, but would hear tales of fantastic beasts. Those tales were a mix of true facts from distant explorers and myths and legends. Without cameras, television, and other media we are accustomed to today, people had no way of knowing which stories were true or not. Examples of various beasts shown in the books form the exhibit are shared along with descriptions of the beasts and their powers.

This would be a helpful book to use when talking about fake news. The comparison of tales from beastiaries and the incredible stories shared across social media and the Internet could start a discussion about what can be proven and what is only rumor. It is also a fun book just for the glimpse into medieval life and fantastic beasts.

A charming story, beautifully illustrated with magnificent animals. A pleasure to read or to read to someone! Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title!
#DontLetTheBeastiesEscapeThisBook #NetGalley

I loved this nook as an introduction for children. The illustrations are colorful and beautifully done.

I received the Kindle version through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This is the story of a young boy, Godfrey, who lived in medieval times, and whose mother is a servant in a castle. Godfrey, like most children (ok...adults too) doesn't like doing his chores, so his mother has to constantly remind him of his duties. Godfrey tends to daydream and forgets to do his chores, but with the help of his imagination (and magical beastly friends) he manages to finish them in a much more enjoyable way. This book has gorgeous pictures in it which really draws the reader into the story. The kindle unfinished version seemed a bit disjointed at times but I think it will all come together by the time of publication. Particularly due to the pictures, this will be a great book in a physical book format.

I was given this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

While I loved the illustrations for this book, the story telling aspect was a little confusing. We're told about the making of the book, but that plot point is quickly abandoned in exchange for random beastie shenanigans. I liked it, but I feel like it didn't do what it set out to. It just felt lost.

A beautiful and imaginative picture book with captivating illustrations. Wonderful storytelling and meticulously detailed illustrations combine to create an immersive reading experience.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions are my own.

The illustrations are beautiful and really make the pages come alive.

This is a fun read-aloud story for kids and contains images for each beast mentioned. The little historical blurb may not be a fun read for the age range targeted by this book, but it is interesting and could be read aloud while showing some of the pictures in the book.

I read an ARC provided by NetGalley for my review.

This is an excellent introduction to medieval life, books, and bestiaries. There is quite a bit of information included at the end to assist parents and teachers if they wish to use it as an educational tool. The illustrations a gorgeous. The only reason for the star deduction is that many kids in the targeted age range will need help with understanding the words and context of the main story.

This colorful child's book is a simple introduction to medieval life and mythical creatures. It's a tale of imaginative hijinks, with folk-style illustrations. Personally, I found the ending "Note to Readers" to be most interesting, with its explanation of how medieval people would have understood never-seen creatures, and connections to the art that inspired the book.

Don't Let the Beasties Escape This Book! by Julie Berry and what a beautiful colourful book this is.
I know a little boy who would love to have this book in his collection of books.

In this book you meet Godfrey a lovely peasant boy who works for a great lord and lady of a big castle. One morning on his way to do his chores at the castle Godfrey drifts off into his own imaginative world and now is now a noble knight Sir Godfrey. He meets and battles with a lion, tames a unicorn, defeats a griffin, conquers a bonnacon, and triumphs over a dragon. Godfrey does not realise that every-time he says the name of an animal, it magically emerges from the book, causing mayhem and inadvertently accomplishing his chores. WoW..........This book is a fun read and will have a small child talk about these beautiful colourful beasts and make up their own stories. The illustrations are very colourful and beautiful.

This book would make a great birthday or even a great Christmas present.


Thanks to NetGalley and Getty Publications for the opportunity to read this book. My review is honest. I loved it.

Julie Berry takes us into the heart of thirteenth century medieval England where young Godfrey sits in the yard surrounded by the castle walls. His mother, a maidservant, tells him he will need to help out with chores. Godfrey is known to forget his chores while he drifts off into his own imaginative world with the noble knight Sir Godfrey.
An artist is in residence painting a Book of Beasts for the lady of the castle. Godfrey spies the book and decides to look through the paintings as he tells a fanciful story about the beasts in the book and how his imaginary Sir Godfrey battles them. It just so happens this is a magical book and when Godfrey names the beasts (lion, unicorn, dragon etc) they come to life from the pages. As Godfrey continues his story each beast escapes and gets up to mischief behind Godfrey’s back. As they play they inadvertently complete Godfrey’s chores for him.
The story ends with all the beasts hiding in Godfrey’s home until the artist comes and zaps them all back into the book.
The story portrays the beasts in a fun and whimsical way as they get up to mischief behind Godfrey’s back. The illustrations are a story within themselves and bring a new element of entertainment to the story as we see the yard animals reactions to the beasts arrival.
The book also contains engaging backmatter with information on life in the Middle Ages and a mini-bestiary drawn from original 13th Century manuscripts along with typical legends and lore.
I would recommend this book for any child 3+years.

I think this book has a really unique and fun story line. The illustrations are beautiful, and it would be a great book to read aloud. I think it will inspire children to use their imaginations. I enjoyed this title.

From Getty Publications, these whimsical, wonderful Medieval inspired illustrations are worth the price of admission alone.

The episodic stories are meant to be jump-off points for the reader's own flights of fancy, fun and mischief. There is a simple setup of a boy who neglects his choirs while day dreaming of ancient world fantastical beasts such as a bonnacon (a bull with horns curved inward and a horse's mane). What happens next is up to you. Stay and participate or move on to the next episode. Some readers may find this role playing construct jarring.

Note that reading this book in digital format via the good folks at NetGalley is less than ideal and doesn't do justice to the amazing artwork. Would love to get my hands on a print copy.

ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher.

An interesting blend of history and fantasy. A young boy in medieval times does his chores, while riddling away stories of mythical creatures read about in a book. His imagination comes to life on the page in illustrations that echo the style of bestiaries from hundreds of years ago, bright but with a bit of antiquity. As fantasy converges with reality, the story ends and the author then explains how years ago, before things like the internet, it was easy to believe tales of strange animals. Which would you believe exists, if described only by word of mouth: a narwal, a rhinoceros or a unicorn?

I liked the way this book ties history with fiction. The idea feels very original to me as a sort of meta examination of history, mythology and the limits of the imagination.

This was such a weird but interesting book, I think that part of my issue was that my Kindle copy split up the pages and they were out of order because of it. I moved to my computer to view it in Digital Editions and everything was much better.


This book was about a boy that needed to get his chores done but he normally gets distracted. Today however he has picked up a book and when he reads a beasties name it appears and just so happens to help him out which the things he has forgotten to do. The story itself is adorable and a lot of fun, I think both parents ans children will really enjoy it.


However, I think what makes this so much better is the fact that is it also a learning tool that talks about illuminated manuscripts and the beasts that were often found as images in them. For an art nerd like me this is huge, but where I had issues in this book was also this aspect. It is a little hard to tell which age-group this book really is for. It tells this amazing kids story but then gets very technical in the end with all the historical information.


I think because this book looks like it is for an older audience and because of the historical information bit this might sell best for an older crowd but it is delightful and if you are looking for educational and beautifully illustrated, this is a great addition to your library.

Review will go live closer to release date.

I received this as a Kindle version through NetGalley and I don't think the digital version did it justice at all. I loved the idea of the story and I think the images are wonderfully bright and fitting to the story... to the extent I could follow the story.

The digital version split image screens and seemed to either miss pages of the story or present them out of order. I did get the gist: Godfrey is a young peasant boy directed by his mother to get his chores done rather than dwadle and forget what he is doing. He finds a wonderful bestiary (medieval book of mythical beasts) in the barn and a wizard helps the animals to come alive. Although each creature creates a new mess, they inadvertently help complete the chores.

I can only hope that the hardback book presents the vignettes in better order. I shared the Kindle version with my bright, six year old granddaughter. She also liked the images and was able to read along on the shorter story descriptions. She wasn't interested in the long descriptive explanations.
If you are interested in these mythical creatures I would suggest looking at the hardback. The illustrations deserve at least a 4.0 and I give the story a 3.0, so I settled for a 3.5 rating overall.